Colorado vs. Maryland: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared
On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, Colorado posts the higher first-time bar passage (90.42% vs 82.1%); Colorado is cheaper on sticker tuition ($35,992 vs $37,830); Colorado places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (96.2% vs 91.3%).
Side by side (ABA Standard 509)
| Metric | Colorado | Maryland | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admissions | |||
| Median LSAT | 164 | 164 | Tie |
| Median undergraduate GPA | 3.81 | 3.72 | Colorado |
| Acceptance rate | 27.6% | 26.1% | Maryland |
| Cost | |||
| Resident tuition | $35,992 | $37,830 | Colorado |
| Non-resident tuition | $44,002 | $55,844 | Colorado |
| Median grant | $15,000 | $28,000 | Maryland |
| Bar passage | |||
| First-time bar passage | 90.42% | 82.1% | Colorado |
| Two-year ultimate bar passage | 92.9% | 89.47% | Colorado |
| Bar passage vs. state average | +5.5 pts | +9.9 pts | Maryland |
| Employment | |||
| Full-time, long-term JD employment | 96.2% | 91.3% | Colorado |
| Large-firm (250+) employment | 22.3% | 13% | Colorado |
| Federal clerkships | 0.6% | 1.9% | Maryland |
15-year trajectory
Full profiles & related
Colorado full profile · Maryland full profile
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Colorado or Maryland?
Colorado is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $35,992 versus Maryland's $37,830.
Which has better bar passage, Colorado or Maryland?
Colorado has the higher first-time bar passage, 90.42% against Maryland's 82.1%.
Which has better job outcomes, Colorado or Maryland?
Colorado places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (96.2% vs 91.3%).
Colorado vs Maryland: which is better?
It depends on what you weigh — the table above shows where each wins. Across the four headline measures (selectivity, sticker cost, first-time bar passage, and JD employment), Colorado leads on more of them, but read the row that matters most to you rather than the count.
Source: ABA Standard 509 Required Disclosures, most recent reported cycle. Last updated June 26, 2026.